White Deer Plain (TV series)
| Company type | Television drama |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Headquarters | China |
| Products | TV drama series |
White Deer Plain () is a 2017 Chinese TV drama adapted from Chen Zhongshi's renowned novel. This series portrays the struggles and spiritual journeys of multiple generations residing on the White Deer Plain in Shaanxi province.
The project required 17 years of preparation and was financed with a budget of 230 million yuan (approximately US$33.39 million). To authentically capture the transformations in rural China during the early 1900s, the production team spent a month immersed in village life before commencing filming. Under the direction of Liu Huining and Liu Jun, Zhang Jiayi leads the cast. The 76-episode drama first aired on Anhui TV and Jiangsu TV on April 16, 2017, but was briefly taken off air after its initial episode, before resuming broadcast on May 10, 2017.
Praised by critics for faithfully retaining the spirit of the original work while intensifying its dramatic elements, it earned commendations from People's Daily and The Beijing News. Although it attracted modest viewership due to its weighty themes, White Deer Plain secured the Outstanding TV Series Golden Angel Award at the 2017 Chinese American Film Festival held in Los Angeles.
Plot
Set on White Deer Plain, the narrative explores the enduring feud between two families over several generations: the Bai family and the Lu family. Bai Jiaxuan symbolizes integrity and moral uprightness, whereas Lu Zisen represents cunning and ambition.
Cast
- Zhang Jiayi as Bai Jiaxuan
- He Bing as Lu Zisen
- Qin Hailu as Xiancao
- Liu Peiqi as Mister Zhu
- Liu Hongtao as Lu San
- Ge Zhiyun as Lu Taiheng
- Lei Jiayin as Lu Yaopeng
- Zhai Tianlin as Bai Xiaowen
- Li Qin as Tian Xiao'e
- Ji Ta as Hei Wa
- Deng Lun as Lu Yaohai
- Wang Xiao as Bai Xiaowu
- Sun Yi as Bai Ling
Ratings
... (remaining data omitted for brevity) ...| Air date | Episode | Jiangsu TV CSM52 City ratings | Anhui TV CSM52 City ratings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratings (%) | Audience share (%) | Rank | Ratings (%) | Audience share (%) | Rank | ||
| 2017.4.16 | 1 | 0.654 | 2.01 | 5 | 0.523 | 1.61 | 7 |
| 2017.5.11 | 2-3 | 0.603 | 2.00 | 3 | 0.522 | 1.73 | 9 |
| 2017.5.12 | 4-5 | 0.546 | 1.81 | 5 | 0.495 | 1.65 | 8 |
| 2017.5.13 | 6-7 | 0.547 | 1.84 | 5 | 0.481 | 1.61 | 8 |
| 2017.5.15 | 8-9 | 0.562 | 1.85 | 5 | 0.511 | 1.68 | 8 |
| 2017.5.16 | 10-11 | 0.54 | 1.86 | 7 | 0.478 | 1.64 | 8 |
| 2017.5.17 | 12-13 | 0.605 | 2.1 | 6 | 0.419 | 1.46 | 8 |
| 2017.5.18 | 14-15 | 0.602 | 2.09 | 7 | 0.482 | 1.67 | 8 |
- Ratings highlighted in red indicate peak values, while those in blue denote the lowest points.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work nominated | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8th Macau International Television Festival | Best Television Series | White Deer Plain | Template:Nom |
| Best Director | Liu Jun | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Actor | Zhang Jiayi | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | He Bing | Template:Nom | ||
| 2018 | 31st Flying Apsaras Award | Outstanding Television Series (Historical) | White Deer Plain | Template:Won |
| Outstanding Screenwriter | Kun Jie | Template:Won | ||
| Outstanding Director | Liu Jin | Template:Nom | ||
| Outstanding Actress | Qin Hailu | Template:Nom | ||
| rowspan=10 | 24th Shanghai Television Festival | Best Television Series | White Deer Plain | Template:Won | |
| Best Director | Liu Jin | Template:Won | ||
| Best Writer | Kun Jie | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Actor | Zhang Jiayi | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Actress | Qin Hailu | Template:Nom | ||
| rowspan=2 | Best Supporting Actor | He Bing | Template:Nom | ||
| Zhai Tianlin | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Li Qin | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Cinematography | Huang Wei | Template:Won | ||
| Best Art Direction | Template:NA | Template:Nom | ||
| rowspan=2 |29th China TV Golden Eagle Award | Outstanding Television Series | White Deer Plain | Template:Won | |
| Best Actor | Zhang Jiayi | Template:Nom |